Product bagging machine

ABSTRACT

The machine comprises a vertical chute having a bottom slide member and parallel side walls upstanding from the side edges thereof. A short platform is provided to the rear of and at the upper end of the slide member. A stack of plastic film bags are draped over the platform with their open ends at the lower end of the platform. The longer sides of the bags are pinned in conventional fashion by a wicket to the platform. A fan and conduit assembly supplies a stream of air to the mouth of the top bag in the stack to open it over the end of the slide member, in position to receive a load. Hinged wings are provided to open from within the bag, when contacted by the loaf being advanced along the slide member, and hold the mouth of the bag fully open. The end of the chute is preferably formed of hinged sections also, the wings are preferably slidably mounted on these sections so that they can be adjusted toward or away from the slide member. The hinged sections and adjustable wings give the machine the capability to accomodate bags and loaves of different sizes.

United States Patent Bloemhof Dec. 16, 1975 PRODUCT BAGGlNG MACHINE tom slide member and parallel side walls upstanding [76] Inventor: Jan Bloemhof, 13336 58th st, from the side edges thereof. A short platform is pro- Edmonton Alberta Canada vided to the rear of and at the upper end of the slide member. A stack of plastic film bags are draped over Filed: June 24, 19 4 the platform with their open ends at the lower end of the platform. The longer sides of the bags are pinned [21] Appl' No" 482,549 in conventional fashion by a wicket to the platform. A fan and conduit assembly supplies a stream of air to [52] US. Cl. 53/385; 53/189; 53/261 the mouth of the top bag in the stack to open it over [51] Int. Cl. B65B 43/36 th end of the slide member, in position to receive a Field of Search 3/385, 8 load. Hinged wings are provided to open from within 3 262 the bag, when contacted by the loaf being advanced along the slide member, and hold the mouth of the References Cited bag fully open. The end of the chute is preferably UNITED STATES PATENTS formed of hinged sections also, the wings are prefer- 2,713,449 7/1955 Carmichael 53/261 x ably Slidably mounted these sections so that they 3,206,913 9/1965 Fleigher et al 53/385 x can be adjusted toward or y from the Slida 3,763,627 10/1973 Kupcikevicius et al 53/385 x hen The hinged Sections and adjustable Wings give the Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ernest Peter Johnson [57] ABSTRACT The machine comprises a vertical chute having a botl l I l machine the capability to accomodate bags and loaves of different sizes.

7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet2of8 3,925,967

US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet30f8 3,925,967

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 4 of 8 U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 6 of8 3,925,967

US Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 7 of 8 3,925,967

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 8 of 8 PRODUCT BAGGING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a product bagging machine.

It is now common for bakeries to package loaves of bread in plastic film bags. There are automatic bagging machines commercially available to help the bakery worker in this operation. In general, these machines involve providing a horizontal slide or chute along which the worker moves the loaf; a horizontal stack of flat, plastic film bags is positioned on an elevator deive at the end of the slide. Each bag is formed with one side longer than the other the longer side is pinned to the elevator device by a wicket, so that the top, shorter side of the bag is left loose. A stream of air is directed at the mouth of the top bag in the stack to open and inflate the bag; the worker can then slide the load forward into the open mouth of the bag. As the loaf advances, it contacts a pair of vertically disposed, transverse, hinged gates or wings which extend across the slide from its sides. The wings are rotated into the bag mouth by the loaf and expand the mouth to the fully open position to facilitate the entry of the loaf. "Once the loaf is inserted, the worker tears the bag loose from the wicket and the process is then repeated.

The prior art machines are characterized by some disadvantages, at least when viewed with relation to the operations of a small bakery, which normally produces a relatively firm, crusty product. More particularly, it will be recalled that the stack of bags is horizontally positioned; the weight of the loaf entering the bag has a tendency to cause its irregular bottom surface to snag the bottom wall of the bag and tear it. In addition, the vertical wings have a tendency to catch the upper side of the bag when being rotated into its mouth, and bunch it up, making it difficult to insert the loaf. Finally, the prior art machines are expensive to manufacture; this arises in part because they use a relatively large slide platform, a bag elevator, and wings having relatively elaborate spring-loaded hinges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing comments in mind, it is a preferred object of this invention to provide a bagging machine designed so that a crusty loaf can be inserted into a plastic film bag with a minimum of snagging on the sides of the bag.

It is another object to provide a semi-automatic bagging machine of the air-inflation type which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture in comparison to the competing machines currently commercially available.

It is another object to provide a machine of this type having improved wings which do not catch the upper side wall of the plastic bag during the opening operation.

It is another preferred object of the invention to provide a machine having a chute outlet or mouth which is adjustable, so as to accomodate loaves and bags of different sizes.

In accordance with the invention, a bagging machine is provided having a substantially vertical slide member or chute. To the rear of this slide member and extending upwardly from just below its outlet end is a flat platform for supporting a stack of plastic film bags. The platform is also substantially vertically disposed; it is preferbly only about half the length of the length of the bags, so that they overhang it in the form of a bent stack. The longer sides of the bags are pinned, as by a wicket, to the lowr end of the platform. The upper side of the top bag is positioned so that it can be drawn up over the upper end of the slide member into position to 5 receive a loaf of bread being pushed along the slide surface. A fan is supplied, having a conduit leading to the underside of the slide member at its outlet end. Preferbly, an opening is provided through the slide member adjacent its outlet end and the air supply conduit communicates with this opening; thus air is supplied to two zones, i.e. the top and bottom surfaces of the slide member adjacent the outlet end thereof. A pair of wing members is provided. One wing member is mounted, as with a hinge, at each side edge of the slide member; preferably the two wing members are disposed in a plane extending at an acute angle toward the outlet end of the slide surface, so that the ends of the wing members closest to the slide surface are near to its outlet end.

In operation, the air stream, egressing from the conduit along the rear side of the slide member, catches the edge of the free upper side of the top bag and works it up over the outlet end of the slide member. The air stream moving along the front surface of the slide member combines with the first mentioned stream to inflate the bag into a vertically disposed condition. A loaf of bread is. then advanced along the slide surface. On contacting the wing members, it rotates or expands them, from within the bag, until they pull the bag mouth to the .fully open position. The loaf is then pushed into the bag and as the motion of the loaders arm continues, the pinned side of the bag tears free and the product is bagged.

In a preferred feature, the upper end of the chute is formed in two sections, each being mounted for outward rotation about an axis normal to the slide surface. Thus the sections can rotate together to narrow the chute outlet, or rotate outwardly to widen it. Resilient means are provided to normally urge the sections together.

In another preferred feature, the wings are slidably mounted so that they can be shifted toward or away from the slide surface. Thus the wings can be adjusted for use with bags of different sizes.

The machine and its operation are marked by certain advantageous features, namely:

l. the use of a vertical chute and the preferred short vertical platform eliminates the need for a long slide table and bag elevator, thereby reducing the cost of the unit;

2. because the weight of the loaf is on the loaders hand, instead of on the bottom side wall of the bag, snagging and tearing problems are greatly reduced;

3. because the wing members open internally of the bag, rather than into its mouth, bunching of the top lip of the bag is effectively eliminated;

4. the vertical positioning of the slide surface greatly reduces the strain on the loaders back muscles, as compared with that arising from the operation of machines having horizontal loading;

5. the relatively small size of the device makes it amenable for mounting on the side of the bakery bread slicer, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the user; and

6. the adjustaility of the chute mouth width and the wing height make it possible for the machine to accomodate loaves and bags of different sizes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus, with the bag platform shown in two positions;

FIG. 3 is a partly broken away side view of the apparatus, showing the details of the air conduit and the sequence of movements of a bag being inflated;

FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d are a series of simplified top and side views intended to illustrate the opening and closing of the wings by an advancing loaf;

FIG. 5 is a top view, partly broken away, of the adjustable chute outlet;

FIG. 6 is a top view showing the structure of FIG. 5 with the wings and outlet sections fully open;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5, showing the adjustable wings close to the slide surface;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, with the wings adjusted away from the slide surface; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, with the wings in the fully open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to the drawings, the bagging machine 1 comprises a slide member 2 having a flat, substantially vertical slide surface 3 terminating in inlet and outlet ends 4, 5. The slide member 2 includes upstanding side walls 6, 7; adjacent the outlet end, these side walls 6, 7 diminish in height so that their top edges 8, 9 are disposed in a plane extending at an acute angle toward the slide surface 3.

A pair of wing members 12, 13 are attached by hinges 14 to the edges 8, 9 of the side wall sections 10. In the inoperative position, these wing members extend inwardly toward each other and are disposed in the same plane as the edges 8, 9.

It will be noted that the upper ends of the wing members l2, 13 are located quite close to the slide surface 3 and to its outlet end 5. In the operative position, the edges 30, 31 of the wing members 12, 13 are located in a plane generally parallel to the slide surface 3. Springs 32 are attached to the outside surfaces of the side walls 6, 7; these springs function to urge the wing members 12, 13 from the operative, opened position shown in FIG. 3 to the inoperative, closed position shown in FIG. 2.

A pair of plates 14 extend rearwardly from the side walls 6, 7. A platform 16 is pivotally attached to the plates 14 by a linkage assembly 17. As shown in FIG. 2, the platform 16 is movable from a bagging position wherein its support surface 18 is disposed generally parallel to the vertical slide surface at its outlet end, and a loading position, wherein it is disposed horizontally. The platform 16 is quite short, in the order of half the length of the plastic film bags 19. Springs extend between the linkage assembly 17 and the plates 14 and function to draw the platform surface 18 firmly against the underside of the slide member 2.

A stack of plastic film bags 19 is positioned on the platfrom 16, as shown in FIG. 2. The bags are of the conventional type used with this type of machine, i.e. they have sides 22, 23 of unequal length. The longer sides 22 are pinned to the platform 16 adjacent its lower end by the wicket 24, which extends through holes in the platform 16. Thus the shorter side 23 of the top bag is free and available to be caught by an air stream to open the bag.

An electric fan 25 is mounted in a box 26 attached to the underside of the slide member 2. A conduit 27 leads from the fan 25 to a point 28 located at the rear surface 29 of the slide member 2 near its outlet end 5. The conduit 27 also communicates with an opening 33 extending through the slide surface near its outlet end. The fan 25 and conduit 27 cooperate to supply streams of air which issue from the opening 33 and outlet 34 and move along the front and rear surfaces 3, 29 of the slide member 2 toward its outlet end 5.

The platform 16, wicket 24, conduit outlet 34 and opening 33 are arranged to be relatively close to the outlet end 5 of the slide surface 3, so that the top bag will open in a manner which is now described. With a stack of bags 21 pinned in place on the vertically positioned platform 16, the fan 25 is actuated. The stream of air issuing from the conduit outlet 34 immediately catches the lip of the free side 23 of the top bag in the stack and displaces the lip up over the outlet end 5 of the slide member 2. At this point, the stream of air from the opening 33 combines with the air from the outlet 34 to inflate the bag to the fully open, vertically disposed position. A loaf of bread is then placed on the slide surfce 3 and is supported from below by the operators hand. As the loaf is advanced upwardly, its leading end contacts the wing members 12, 13, extending across its path, and rotates them upwardly about their hinges 14. The wing members 12, 13 contact the shorter side 23 of the bag and stretch the mouth portion of the bag to the fully open position. It will be noted that the wing members 12, 13 due to having their upper ends low and close to the outlet end 5, open from within the bag rather than opening into it. Once the loaf is fully inserted, the worker simply continues to push upwardly with his arm and tears the loaded bag loose from the wicket 24. The process is then repeated.

While the invention has been described in terms of using the machine in the vertical position, it is adapted to be operable in the horizontal position as well.

In a preferred feature, when the machine is in the horizontal position, a spring member 40 is pivotally attached to one of the side walls 6, 7 and extends transversely across the path of an advancing loaf. When in use, the spring member 40 functions to prevent the slices first entering the open bag from toppling over. As the loaf is advanced into the bag, the spring member 40 swings aside toward the side wall 6 to which it is attached, so as to allow the loaf to complete its entry.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 59, the outlet end of the slide member is laterally variable and the location of the wing members relative to the slide surface may be adjusted, permitting the machine to be used with loaves and bags of different sizes.

More particularly, the upper or outlet end 5 of the slide member 2 is comprised of two separate sections 50, 51. Each section 50, 51 has a right angle configuration, comprising an upstanding side wall 52, and a bottom wall 53 which is substantially co-planar with the slide surface 3. A hinge 54 connects the lower edge of the side wall 52 to the non-movable side wall portion 55 of the slide member 2. The width of each bottom wall 53 is less than one half the width of the non-movable bottom wall portion 56 of the slide member 2 therefore it is possible for the sections 50, 51 to swing inwardly toward each other to narrow the outlet end of the slide member 2. Each-section bottom wall 53 has an ear portion 57, 58 these ear portions are adapted to slide one upon the other. The upper ear portion 57 carries a post 59 which slides in a slot 60 formed in the lower ear portion 58. The slot 60 is angularly inclined when the sections 50, 51 are in the narrow position. A spring 61 connects the port 59 with a lug 62, shown in shadow lines, attached to the underside of the slide member 2.' v

In operation, when a loaf of bread is moved along the slide surface 3, it contacts the sections 50, 51 and swings them outwardly from the position shown in FIG. 5 to that shown in FIG. 6. At the same time, the post 59 moves away from the lug 62, thereby stretching the spring 61. The extent to which the sections 50, 51 swing outwardly is controlled by the size of the mouth of the bag which will receive the loaf. When the loaf has passed through the sections 50, 51, the spring 61 contracts, thereby returning the sections to the narrow position.

In conjunction with the capability of the sections 50, 51 to be swung between narrow and wide positions, it is desirable that the wing members 12 may be adjusted toward or away from the slide surface 3, so that the wing members 12 function effectively with bags of different sizes. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the side wall 52, of each section 50, is formed of inner and outer members 62, 63. Each outer member 63 hingedly carries a wing member 20 and is slidable away or toward the section bottom wall 53 on an inner member 62. In greater detail, the inner member 62 carries a slide member 64 along its lower margin. The outer member 63 has a groove-forming member 65, along its lower margin, which slidably receives the slide member 64. A lock screw 66 projects through member 65 to press against the slide member 64 and lock the outer member 63 by friction at the desired position.

Obvious variations in the specific constructional details described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and such embodiments of the invention as come within the scope and purview of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

I claim:

I. A product bagging machine comprising:

a slide member having a slide surface;

said slide member having an outlet portion divided into two sections which are outwardly rotatable to a wide position; means associated with the sections for normally drawing them together to a narrow position; means at the outlet end of the slide surface for supporting a stack of bags; means for supplying a stream of air at the outlet end of the slide member to open the top bag of the stack; and

means, coacting with the movement of a product advancing along the slide member, for expanding from within the open top bag to hold its mouth portion fully open.

2. The machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the support means is positioned substantially parallel to the slide member along part of the length of the stack of bags, whereby the unsupported portions of the bags may overhang said support means.

3. The machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the expanding means are slidably mounted on the slide member so as to be movable toward or away from the slide surface.

4. A machine for bagging a loaf of bread in a plastic film bag having sides of unequal length comprising:

a substantially vertical slide member having inlet and outlet ends and a flat slide surface;

first means, disposed at the rear of and generally parallel to the slide-member at its outlet end, for supporting a stack of bags along part of its length;

second means, positioned at the rear of the slide member and near to its outlet end, for supplying a stream of air thereto;

means for affixing the longer sides of the stack of bags to the first means to provide the free, shorter side of the top bag in the path of the air stream, whereby said free side will be displaced by the air over the outlet end to the slide member to permit inflating of the top bag into a substantially vertical position for receiving the product;

pair of swing members, one of said wing members being hingedly mounted at each side of the slide member, said wing members normally being disposed in a plane extending at an acute angle toward the slide surface so that the wing member ends closest to the slide surface are near to the outlet end thereof, whereby, when the product is advanced along the slide member, said product will rotate the wing members upwardly within the open top bag to contact its shorter side and expand its mouth portion to the fully open position for loadmg.

5. A machine for bagging a loaf of bread in a plastic film bag having sides of unequal length, comprising:

a substantially vertical slide member having inlet and outlet ends, a flat slide surface, and upstanding side walls diminishing in height at the outlet end thereof whereby the upper edges of the diminishing section are disposed in a plane extending at an acute angle toward the slide surface, said slide member having an opening extending therethrough adjacent its outlet end;

a fan, associated with the slide member, for supplying a stream of air;

a conduit, connected at its inlet to the fan and having its outlet at the rear surface of the slide member near its outlet end, said conduit connecting with the opening, whereby moving air may be supplied to these two zones;

platform means, having a flat support surface, said platform means being movable between a bagging position, wherein the support surface is disposed at the rear of and generally parallel to the slide surface at its outlet end, and a loading position, wherein the support surface is disposed at an angle from the slide member, said platform means being of sufficient length to support a stack of bags along part of its length and being adapted to locate the mouth of the top bag of said stack immediately downstream of the conduit outlet;

means for affixing the longer sides of the stack of bags to the platform means to provide the free, shorter side of the top bag adjacent to and downstream of the conduit, whereby said free side may be displaced by the air stream, from the opening, over the outlet end of the slide member, and the air from the opening and conduit outlet will inflate the top bag into a substantially vertical position for receiving the product; and

a pair of wing members, each of said wing members being hingedly connected to a slide member side wall, said wing members normally being disposed in a plane extending at an acute angle toward the slide surface so that the wing member ends closest to the slide surface are near to the outlet end thereof whereby, when the product is advanced along the slide member, said product will rotate the wing members upwardly into the open top bag to contact its shorter side and pull its mouth portion to the fully open position for loading.

6. The machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

the outlet end of the slide member comprises two spring means nonnally urging the sections to the narrow position.

7. The machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein; the slide member comprises side wall means extending along the longitudinal edges of the slide surface; and

each wing member is slidably attached to one side wall means whereby the wing member may be ad- 'justed toward or away from the slide surface. 

1. A product bagging machine comprising: a slide member having a slide surface; said slide member having an outlet portion divided into two sections which are outwardly rotatable to a wide position; means associated with the sections for normally drawing them together to a narrow position; means at the outlet end of the slide surface for supporting a stack of bags; means for supplying a stream of air at the outlet end of the slide member to open the top bag of the stack; and means, coacting with the movement of a product advancing along the slide member, for expanding from within the open top bag to hold its mouth portion fully open.
 2. The machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the support means is positioned substantially parallel to the slide member along part of the length of the stack of bags, whereby the unsupported portions of the bags may overhang said support means.
 3. The machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the expanding means are slidably mounted on the slide member so as to be movable toward or away from the slide surface.
 4. A machine for bagging a loaf of bread in a plastic film bag having sides of unequal length comprising: a substantially vertical slide member having inlet and outlet ends and a flat slide surface; first means, disposed at the rear of and generally parallel to the slide member at its outlet end, for supporting a stack of bags along part of its length; second means, positioned at the rear of the slide member and near to its outlet end, for supplying a stream of air thereto; means for affixing the longer sides of the stack of bags to the first means to provide the free, shorter side of the top bag in the path of the air stream, whereby said free side will be displaced by the air over the outlet end to the slide member to permit inflating of the top bag into a substantially vertical position for receiving the product; a pair of swing members, one of said wing members being hingedly mounted at each side of the slide member, said wing members normally being disposed in a plane extending at an acute angle toward the slide surface so that the wing member ends closest to the slide surface are near to the outlet end thereof, whereby, when the product is advanced along the slide member, said product will rotate the wing members upwardly within the open top bag to contact its shorter side and expand its mouth portion to the fully open position for loading.
 5. A machine for bagging a loaf of bread in a plastic film bag having sides of unequal length, comprising: a substAntially vertical slide member having inlet and outlet ends, a flat slide surface, and upstanding side walls diminishing in height at the outlet end thereof whereby the upper edges of the diminishing section are disposed in a plane extending at an acute angle toward the slide surface, said slide member having an opening extending therethrough adjacent its outlet end; a fan, associated with the slide member, for supplying a stream of air; a conduit, connected at its inlet to the fan and having its outlet at the rear surface of the slide member near its outlet end, said conduit connecting with the opening, whereby moving air may be supplied to these two zones; platform means, having a flat support surface, said platform means being movable between a bagging position, wherein the support surface is disposed at the rear of and generally parallel to the slide surface at its outlet end, and a loading position, wherein the support surface is disposed at an angle from the slide member, said platform means being of sufficient length to support a stack of bags along part of its length and being adapted to locate the mouth of the top bag of said stack immediately downstream of the conduit outlet; means for affixing the longer sides of the stack of bags to the platform means to provide the free, shorter side of the top bag adjacent to and downstream of the conduit, whereby said free side may be displaced by the air stream, from the opening, over the outlet end of the slide member, and the air from the opening and conduit outlet will inflate the top bag into a substantially vertical position for receiving the product; and a pair of wing members, each of said wing members being hingedly connected to a slide member side wall, said wing members normally being disposed in a plane extending at an acute angle toward the slide surface so that the wing member ends closest to the slide surface are near to the outlet end thereof whereby, when the product is advanced along the slide member, said product will rotate the wing members upwardly into the open top bag to contact its shorter side and pull its mouth portion to the fully open position for loading.
 6. The machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein: the outlet end of the slide member comprises two sections, each swingably connected to the main portion of the slide member, so that they may move between a narrow position, wherein the width of the outlet is less than the width of the slide surface, and a relatively wide position; and spring means normally urging the sections to the narrow position.
 7. The machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein: the slide member comprises side wall means extending along the longitudinal edges of the slide surface; and each wing member is slidably attached to one side wall means whereby the wing member may be adjusted toward or away from the slide surface. 